Combined valance board support and curtain rod bracket



Aug. 11, 1931. J. M. WINTROB 1,318,776

I COMBINED VALANCE BOARD SUPPORT AND CURTAIN ROD BRACKET Filed March 18. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. JACOB M. WINTROB ATTORNEY.

J. M. WINTROB Aug. 11, 1931. comma!) uuucs BOARD SUPPORT AND CURTAIN ROD BRACKET 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 18. 1929 Fae. l3

INVENTOR. JACOB M. WINTROB I A TTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 11, 1931 UNITED STATES JAcoB M. wm'rnon, 0F PHILADELPHIA,-PENNSXLVANIA' COMBINED VALANCE BOARD SUPPORT AND CURTAIN ROD BRACKE Application filed mare-h s, 1929. Serial No. 347,881. I o v,

filed August 7, 1928, mea s nofsoaies,

This invention relates to devices adapted for use in hanging curtains, draperies, valances and the like and more particularly to improvements in the construction of a combined valance board support and curtain rod bracket.

Heretofore and prior to this invention it has been the general practice to hang curtains and draperies from rods carried by suitable brackets secured directly to the face of the window or door trim. This practice, of course, necessitated drlvlng the securing elements 1nto the trim the external surface of which Was in consequence injured or marred.

Also, in a number of instances it was diflicult, due to the particular configuration of the trim, to properly and securely position the brackets thereupon without resorting to more or less complicated and expensive expedients. And once these brackets Were mounted in position no provision was made for adjusting the same toward or away from the trim in order to move the curtains and draperies closer to or farther away from the woodwork surrounding the window or door.

For supporting the valance in position it has been more or less common practice to employ a board which extends shelf-like across the upper trim and to the outer edges of which is suitably secured the depending valance.

This board which is removable at will, has been usually supported upon suitable angle brackets secured to the face of the trim. Not

slightly when the valance is removed but their application to the face of the trim of neces-.

sity causes the latter to be permanently disfigured and injured.

All of the above-mentioned difficulties and objections have been overcome by the provision of a combined valance board support and hanging rod bracket constructed in accord ance with my inventions as disclosed in my copending applications Serial No. 297,989,

filed September 29, 1928.

The present invention has for its rimarg objects, in'addition to those mentione inls'ai copending applications, certain improve: 56

ments in the constructions already disclosed. More specifically, these objects are to provide the rod supporting members with limit sto s for precluding accidental longitudinal dis placement of the rods;'to improve the 'con 5s struction of the cord pulley supports; to1per-. mit the use of an auxiliar securing element for preventing accidental displacement of thef valance board with respect to the supporting brackets, therefor; to, provide means in said latter brackets for facilitating the J use therewith of auxiliary supporting elements which are securable either fiatwise upon the top surface of the trim or vertically against the wall immediately above the'trim; to 'p'ro-v vide said auxiliary supporting elements, ,in certain instances, with lntegral' bracket'elements for receiving therebetween the ends of the usual spring roller'shade; to provide ourtain rod supports equippedwith cord pulleys, 76-- ciency of devices adapted for use in'ha' ing 75 curtains, draperies, valances,shades an the like.-. I L Other Objects and'advanta es of the inven tion will appear more fully ereinafteri The invention consists substantially in the an combination, construction, location a'nd relative arrangement of parts, all as will be described more fully hereinafter, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and as finally pointed out in the appendedclaims. In the 88" accompanying drawings, wherein 'haspbeen illustrated preferred forms of construction embodying the principles of the present in vention;

Figure 1 is a front elevational view show 90 ing a pair of combination brackets, constructed in accordance with this invention, mounted in position above a window trim, the valance board being omitted for the sake of clarity;

Figure 2' is a top plan view thereof with all hangings and the valance board omitted;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a combined support and bracket constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the coopera ing bracket independently of the valance'board support with which it is normally associated; Figures 5 and 6 are perspective views of 1 two forms of the auxiliary bracket for quick-detachably securing the combination support and bracket in position as shown in Figure 2;

Figures 7 and 8 are perspective views of a pair of brackets of the type shown in Fig ure 6, these brackets being provided with cooperating means for supporting therebetweenthe ends of a spring roller shade;

Figure 9 is a section taken on line 99 of Figure 2 showing the auxiliary supporting bracket of Figure 5 mounted flatwise upon thetop surface of a relatively deep form of window trim; a

Figure 10 is a section taken on line 10-10 of Figure 2 showing the auxiliary supporting bracket of Figure 6 mounted flatwise against the vertical wall rising abovea relatively shallow form of window trim;

as Figure 11 is a partial vertical sectional view taken on the line 11-11 of Figure 9;

Figure 12 is a sectional View illustrating.

the mode of using the bracket shown inFigure 8;

F igure13 is a front elevational view showing the use of modified forms of combined rod and pulley brackets; 1

Figure 14 is an enlarged'front elevation of the single pulley bracket shown in Fig 45. ure 13;

Figures 15 and 16 are cross-sections taken on the lines 1515 and 16-16, respectively, of Figure 14;

Figure 17 is an enlarged front elevation of the double pulley bracket shown in Figure 13, the supporting element therefor being shown rotated through an angle of 90 degrees with respect to that shown in Figure 14; and

Figures 18 and 19 are cross-sections taken on the lines 1818 and 1919, respectively,

ofFigure 17.

Referring now to the drawings, the nu meral 10 designates generally the framework of a window or door adapted to be oofitted withhangings such as the curtain 11,

the draperies 12, and the valance 13. The

curtain ll-and the draperies'12 are respectively supported fromsuitable rods 14 and 15 arranged to extend across the top ofthe framework, these rods being in turn supported by the brackets constructed in accordance with this invention. The valance 13 is secured in any suitable manner to the outer edges of a valance board 16 supported by the same brackets as support the rods 14 and 15. The brackets which thus serve as a common support for the rods 14 and 15 and the valance board 16 are designated generally by the reference numerals 17 and 18, it being observed that these bracketsare mounted at opposite sides of the framework 10.

It will be observed that each of these brackets 17 and 18 includesa horizontally disposed body portion 19 from the rear edge of which upwardly projects a portion 20. The upper edge of this vertical portion 20 terminates in a forwardly and downwardly curved portion 21 having a lip 22. As appears quite clearly in Figures 3, 9 and 10, the flat bottom portion 19 of the bracket is of considerably greater length than the upper portion 21 thereof. This upper portion 21 is preferably resilient and serves as a spring finger to frictionally retain in position the valance board 16 which is inserted, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, between the portion. 19 of the bracket and the overlying lip 22.. The valance board 16 is positioned with its rear edge abutting the upstandingportion 20 of the bracket and is preferably of a width such that its forward edge projects beyond the forward ends of the supporting portions 19 of the brackets.

As is shown mostclearly in Figure 8, the bottom portion 19 of each of the brackets is provided at the side edges thereof with a pair of inturned flanges or lips 23 which form with the under surface of the body 19 a pair of parallel longitudinally extending grooves or channeled guides 24. The vertically erg:- tending portion 20 of the bracket. as well as the upper portion 21 thereof have the opposite side edges thereof folded back upon themselves, as at 25, to provide in effect a double thickness of metal whereby to mate rially'in'crease the strength and rigidity of the bracket as a whole. It will be understood, of course, that any other suitable means may be employed for reinforcing and increasing the rigidity of the valance board supporting portion of the brackets.

Arranged to be slidably mounted within the channeled guides 24 of each bracket is a member for supporting the curtain and drapery rods 14 and 15. Figures 3 and 9 show one of these rod supporting members, designated generally by the numeral 27, operatively associated with the valance board supporting portion of the bracket 17. Figure 4 shows a second rod supporting member, designated generally by the reference numeral 28, which is designed for cooperation with the rod sup porting member 27 for supporting therebetween the drapery rods 14 and 15, it being understood that the member 28 is arranged (-see Figure for operative association with a valance board supportingmember e2;- actly similar to that shown in Figures 3 and 9, The rod supporting members 27 and 28 are alike in that they are each provided with a substantiallyflat body 29 from the front and rear edges of which respectively depend the flanges 30 and 31. The body 29 of each of the members 27 and 28 is of a transverse width substantially equal to that of the bot tom portion19 of the bracket, each of the members 27 and 28 being suitably slotted as at 32 to permit the side edges of the body 29 thereof to slide within the channeled guides 24. The free lower end of each frontal flange of the members 27 and 28 is rolled to provide a tubular socket 33 extending transversely of the bracket,.it being understood, of course, that the sockets 33 are arranged in axial alignment and in spaced relation to receive therewithin the opposite ends of the rod 15. As clearly appears in Figures 3 and 9, the flange 31 of the member 27 is formed with a transversely extending substantially semicircular groove 34 intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof, this groove 34 cooperating 60- i placement of the rods 14 and 15 with relation with a similar groove 35 formed in a member 36 which is secured in any suitable manner to the flange 31, the grooves 34 and together constituting a second tubular socket 37 for receiving one end of the rod 14. A

corresponding tubular socket 37 for receiving the opposite end of the rod 14 is similarly provided between the flange 31 of the member 28 and a member 38 suitably secured thereto.

' The rod supporting brackets 27 and 28 differ from each other in that the former is provided with a single draw-cord pulley 39 rotatable about a vertical axis, while the latter is provided with a pair of draw-cord pulleys 40 rotatable about horizontal aXes. The single pulley 39 is mounted for rotation between the vertically spaced laterally project ing arms 41 and 42 respectively provided at the lower ends of the member 36 and the flange 31 of member 27. The pulleys 40 are mounted for rotation between the member 38 and the flange 31 of member 28, the

lower extremities of said member 38 and said latter flange 31 being spaced apart to accommodate the pulleys 40 therebetween. A spacer 43, suitably secured between the flange 31 and member 38, serves to maintain said pulleys 40 in separated relation.

It is customary to suspend the curtain 11 from the rod 14 and the draperies from the rod 15, while the valance 13 is suspended from the outer edge of the valance board 16. In order to insure against longitudinal disto their respective supporting brackets, each of the tubular sockets as heretofore described is provided with a stop or limiting means preferably consisting of a spring wire bent which it is associated and with a depending section 46arranged to pro]ect into the 1nterior of the socket through a suitable aperture 47 provided at the outer end thereof. The inner extremity of the straight section of the wire is secured, as at 48, to the rod supporting bracket, the resiliency of the wire being such as to urge the section 46 thereof inwardly of the socket with which it is associ ated. A loop 49 is provided to facilitate lifting the wire section 46 free of its respective socket to permit the insertion therethrough of a curtain or drapery rod, it being understood that when the end of this rod passes clear of the wire section 46 the latter will of its own resiliency spring back into place and so prevent accidental displacement of the rod. It will thus appear that these sections 46 constitute lateral abutments or limiting means for the opposite ends of the rods 14 and 15.

As appears most clearly in Figure 3 the body 19 of each bracket 17 and 1.8,is provided with an elongated slot 50, while the members 27 and 28 are each provided in the flat bodies 29 thereof with an opening 51 adapted to register with said slot 50 when said members are respectively assembled within their supporting brackets. A securing element, such as a screw 52, is inserted through said opening 51 and slot 50 and into the valance board 16 (see Figures 9, 10 and 11), this screw serving as an additional means for retaining the board in position. The elongated slot 50 permits relative adjustment of the members 27 and 28 with respect to the brackets 17 and 18 preliminarily to driving the screw into the valance board. I

Figures 9 and 10 show two modes of mounting the combined bracket and support in position above a window trim, in certain instances one being preferable to the other. In Figure 9 it will be observed that the window trim 10 is relatively deep, while in Figure 10 it is relatively shallow. In order that the hangings may be sufficiently clear of the front edge of the deep window trim shown in Figure 9, it is necessary to mount the combined bracket and support directly upon the top surface of the trim and in forwardly spaced relation with respect to the wall. Obviously, this is not necessary where the trim is shallow, as in Figure 10, it being possible in this latter instance to secure the bracket directly to the wall. In order to utilize the presentinvention in either of the installations shown in Figures 9 and 10 and at the same time avoid disfigurement of the trim or wall, an auxiliary supporting member 53 (see Figure 5) is employed which is adapted to be secured against the wall above the trim, as in Figure 10, or flatwise upon the top surface of the trim, as in Figure 9, by means of a screw 54 passing through a suitable opening 55 provided in the body of said member. In some cases it may be preferable to employ the member 53' of Figure 6 wherein, in addition to the opening 55 an opening 56 isprovided for an additional securing element 57. In Figure 10 this latter type supporting member is shown, it being understood, however, that the member shown in Figure 5 may be substituted therefor. Opposite side edges ofthe member 53 are inturned, as at 58, to provide a pair of opposed grooves 59 within which the side edges of the portion 20 or the body 19 of the valance board support, as the case may be, may be slidably received. The member 53 is also provided with inturned side edges 58. As appears most clearly in Figure 3 the said support is provided in opposite sides thereof with suitable slots 60 to permit this quick-detachable engagement between said support and its supporting member 53, irrespective of whether the latter is mounted in horizontal or vertical position.

In an installation like that shown in Figure 9 the member of Figure 5 is preferably employed, it being observed that the rear edge 60 thereof is spaced away from the wall upon which the trim is secured. To preclude forward displacement of the valance board support with respect to the supporting member 53 therefor, the upstanding portion 20 of said support is provided in its rear surface with a vertically movable detent or catch 61, the lower end of which is adapted to engage behind the rear edge 60 of supporting member 53. This detent 61 is preferably manipulated by means of a bar 62 arranged upon the forward face of the upstanding portion 20 and secured to the detent by a rivet 63. Upon lifting said bar 62 the detent 61 is disengaged from the member 53 whereupon the valance board support may be quickdetachably removed therefrom.

Figures 7 and 8 show a pair of combination valance board support and spring roller shade brackets, each of which includes a main body 64, suitably aperturcd as at 65, which is similar in certain respects to the member 53 shown in Figure 6. Projecting rearwardly from the lower edge of the apertured portion 64 is an integral extension 66 which in turn is provided with a depending portion 67 i lying in a plane normal to that of the body 64. This depending portion is in one instance provided with an aperture 68 and in the other instance with a slot 69, said aperture 68 and slot 69 being arranged to respectively receive the opposite ends of a spring roller shade (not shown). Figure 12 shows one of the brackets mounted upon a window trim, it being observed that the body 64 is secured to the face of said trim with the rearward if extension 66 underlying the trim whereby to present the slotted portion 67 in proper position to receive one end of the roller. A valance board support is shown supported in quick-detachable relation upon the body 64 l of the combination bracket just described.

In Figure 13 are shown a pair of brackets 70 and 71 for supporting a curtain rod 72 therebetween, said brackets being respectively secured upon the inner surfaces of the socket 74 for receiving the opposite end of the rod. In each case the overlapping portions of the brackets 70 and 71 are secured together by means of a rivet 75, the rear vertical edges of said portions being oppositely turned, as at 76, to provide a vertically disposed base. Preferably, the flanges 7 6 are of such shape and size that combined they form a square, this for a purpose which will be apparent imn'iediately hereinafter.

As clearly appears in Figure 16 the bracket 70 is provided with a pair of vertically spaced laterally projecting flanges 77 and 78 between which is mounted, for rotation about a vertical axis, a draw-cord pulley 79, the said flanges 77 and 78 constituting integral eX- tensions of the overlapping portions of the bracket. As distinguished from this, the bracket 71 is characterized by the provision of a pair of draw-cord pulleys 80, the latter being embraced between the laterally spaced branches 81 of the bracket and being arranged for rotation about a common horizontal axis. Preferably, the pulleys are maintained in separated relation by a spacer 82 which is suitably secured, as by rivet 83, between the overlapping portions of the bracket. 1

The brackets 70 and 71 are respectively mounted upon the window or door frame side walls through the interposition of a channeled supporting member 84, the latter being fixed in position by the screw 85. IVith the exception that it may be smaller, this member is in all respects similar to member 53 of Figure 5. By virtue of the fact that the base of each of the brackets 70-71 is of square shape, it will be obvious that the latter may be slipped into place by moving the same in a vertical plane or at right angles thereto, depending upon whether its supporting member 84 is in the position shown in Figures 14 to 16 or in that shown in Figures 17 to 1.9. This feature is of importance in those cases where there is insuflicient headroom for moving the bracket vertically into or out of supported position.

It will be understood that various changes may be made in the invention from time to time without departing from the spirit or principles thereof and it is accordingly intended to claim the invention broadly, as well as specifically, as indicated by the appended claims.

That is claimed as new and useful is:

1. In a combined valance board support anl hanging rod bracket, in combination, a bracket member adapted to support a valance board, means slidably associated with said bracket member for supporting one or more rods from Which hangings may be suspended, and means operatively associated with said rod-supporting means for effectually precluding longitudinal displacement of the rods.

2. In a combined valance board support and curtain rod bracket, incombination, a member having a substantially flat horizontally disposed portion for supporting a valance board, means slidably associated with said bracket member for supporting a curtain rod, and spring pressed means operatively associated with said rod-supporting means for limiting the movement of the rod in one direction.

3. In a combined valance board support and curtain rod bracket, in combination, a substantially flat horizontally disposed valance board supporting member, a member slidably associated with said valance board supporting member, said member being provided with a tubular socket for receiving one end of a curtain rod, and resilient means carried by said slidable member, said means being provided with a portion projecting inwardly of said socket to constitute a limit stop for the end of the rod.

4. In combination, a member arranged to support one end of a curtain rod, means for mounting said member upon a fixed support, means for positionally adjusting said member toward or away from said support, and means operatively associated with said member for limiting the longitudinal movement of the rod with respect thereto.

5. In combination, a member arranged to support one end of a curtain rod, said member being provided with a tubular socket for receiving said end of said rod, and resilient means normally projecting into the interior of said socket to serve as a limit stop for the end of the rod received therewithin, said means being liftable free of said socket to permit said rod to be projected therethrough.

6. In a combined valance board support and curtain rod bracket, in combination, a substantially flat horizontally disposed valance board supporting member, a member slidably associated with said valance board supporting member and having a plurality of spaced, depending flanges, one ofsaid flanges being provided with a tubularsocket andthe o herfwith a subs ntially emi-cit cul'ar groove, a member secured to. and over: lying said grooved flange to formtherewith a second tubular socket, and drawscord pul l vm ans' supp rted between said astmentioned member and s ro v d flange.

111 Va co bined vaa board supper; and curtain rod bracket, in combinatioma substantially fiathorizontally disposed val ance board supportingmember, curtain rod, s pp ting membe slidably associated therewith, said latter member be ng I rovided with a horizontall grooved depen ing flange, a complementa ly grooved plate overlying said flange to form therebetween a tubular socket for receiving said rod, and draw-cord pulley means supported between said plate and flange below said tubular socket.

8. In a combined valance board support and curtain rod bracket, in combination, a member having a substantially flat horizontally disposed portion for supporting a valance board, said portion being provided with an elongated slot, means slidably associated with said member for supporting one or more curtain rods there below, said slidable means being provided with an opening in constant registry with said slot, a valance board superposed upon said flat portion, and means adapted to be passed through said opening and said slot for securing said board in position.

9. In a combined valance board support and hanging rod bracket, in combination, a channeled member adapted for securement fiatwise against a vertical wall or upon the top surface of a window trim, a valance board supportin member having a horizontally extending bottom portion and a vertically extending rear portion, said bottom portion being arranged for quick-detachable engagement with said channeled member when the latter is secured upon the top surface of a window trim and said rear portion being arranged for quick-detachable engagement with said channeled member when the latter is secured against said vertical wall, and locking means operatively associated with said rear portion for engaging said channeled member when said bottom portion is engaged therewith, said'locking means being inoperative when said rear portion is engaged with said channeled member.

10. In a combined valance board support and hanging rod bracket, in combination, a channeled member adapted to be secured in horizontally disposed position, a valance board supporting member having a horizontally extending bottom member arranged to be slidably received within said channeled member, and locking means on said supportmg member adapted to engage said chanits neled member for preventing unintentional separation therebetween.

' 11. In combination, a bracket member for supporting a valance board in position, said member having horizontally and vertically disposed portions, means for quick-detachably receiving either said vertical portion or said horizontal portion of said bracket memher, and means slidably associated with said bracket member for efiectually precluding accidental displacement of said bracket member from said supporting means when the latter. is in receipt of the horizontal portion of the bracket member. I

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto afxed my signature.

JACOB M. WINTROB. 

